BNP leaders have accused former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of conspiring from India to destabilize Bangladesh.

Speaking at a press briefing, BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Zainul Abedin Farroque said, “For 16 years, Sheikh Hasina distorted history and signed anti-national deals. Now she is sitting in India plotting to create instability in Bangladesh. Awami League’s loyalists are trying to sabotage the upcoming February elections.”

Another BNP adviser, Harunur Rashid, warned that the party would not tolerate any conspiracy to derail the electoral process.

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) has terminated the employment of Rakibul Mobin, a staff member, after he made offensive remarks on social media about newly elected female representatives of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).

The move followed a formal complaint lodged by newly elected DUCSU Law and Human Rights Secretary Shakhawat Zakaria last Thursday.

In a statement, BIGD said: “Rakibul’s personal comments in no way reflect the values, standards, or institutional stance of BIGD. We strongly condemn any disrespectful or discriminatory remarks based on gender, religion, political affiliation, or any other identity.”

It was revealed that Rakibul had shared a photo of the victorious DUCSU women leaders and referred to them as “house slaves.”

AB Party leader Asaduzzaman Fuad has branded the Jatiya Party as a “historical threat” to Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty, and national interests.

“Since its inception, the Jatiya Party has undermined the country’s security. It rehabilitated Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League in politics, ruled the country without elections for nine years, and later acted as Awami League’s ‘B-Team’ for 16 years to serve Delhi’s interests,” Fuad alleged.

He further claimed that every reason behind the people’s uprising against the Awami League also applies to the Jatiya Party, saying the only difference lies in the degree of involvement.

A meeting of the five-party liaison committee was held at the central office of Islami Andolon Bangladesh to review the country’s political situation.

The participants discussed ways to strengthen public opinion for holding the next national election under the framework of the July Declaration, emphasizing its legal recognition. The committee also decided to engage with political, social, and religious leaders to build momentum for this demand.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader, Secretary General of Khelafat Majlis; Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad, Secretary General of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis; Maulana Abdul Majed Athari, Vice-President of Nezame Islam Party; Maulana Mujibur Rahman Hamidi, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon; and Islami Andolon Secretary General Maulana Yunus Ahmad.

In a major policy shift, the government is preparing to introduce paternity leave for civil servants alongside existing maternity leave benefits.

According to the Ministry of Public Administration, maternity leave of six months has been in place since 2011, and many private institutions now follow the same rule. However, paternity leave is still absent in Bangladesh’s laws, leaving working fathers unable to properly support their families during childbirth.

A summary on amending the Bangladesh Service Rules has been sent to the Chief Adviser’s Office. The proposal cites international practices: paternity leave is available in 78 countries, including India, where fathers get 10 days of paid leave twice in their service careers, and Pakistan, where fathers can take one month of paid leave up to three times.

Officials say the move is being considered in light of growing demands from civil servants and to ensure better family care for newborns.

Economic Adviser Farida Akhter has announced that Bangladesh will export 1,200 metric tons of hilsa to India this year on the occasion of Durga Puja—less than half of last year’s volume.

She clarified that the decision was made not under pressure, but out of goodwill in response to India’s request. Additionally, in response to demands from expatriate communities, Bangladesh has approved the export of 11,000 metric tons of hilsa to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

Farida noted that hilsa production has dropped this year due to the killing of juvenile fish (jatka), leading to tighter supplies in domestic markets. To ease prices, the government will soon initiate sales of hilsa at affordable rates in selected areas.

She also highlighted ongoing efforts to eradicate LSD (Lumpy Skin Disease) in livestock, with vaccination drives now covering districts including Sirajganj, Pabna, and Manikganj.

Marking International Democracy Day, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Golam Parwar has called for institutionalizing democracy in Bangladesh and ensuring that the next general election is held under a Proportional Representation (PR) system.

In a statement, Parwar said: “Democracy is the foundation of equality, rule of law, civil rights, and freedom of expression. The absence of democracy leads to the absence of these values.”

He accused what he termed a “fascist regime” of destroying democracy over the past 17 years, depriving citizens of voting rights, justice, social security, and fundamental freedoms. Referring to the July uprising as a “historic opportunity,” he urged all political parties and citizens to unite beyond party lines to institutionalize democracy.

Jamaat, he said, is committed to free, fair, and fearless elections under a PR system and demanded strict measures against election malpractice, including vote-buying, muscle power, and ballot-box capture.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has expressed Bangladesh’s readiness to increase imports from the United States, hoping the move will pave the way for expanded duty-free access.

During a meeting with Brendan Lynch, US Deputy Assistant Trade Representative, Yunus highlighted Bangladesh’s interest in importing more American agricultural products, including cotton and soybeans. The two sides also discussed strategies to reduce the trade imbalance, strengthen energy cooperation, increase LPG imports, potential aircraft purchases, narcotics control, and the ongoing Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

“Bangladesh is prepared to increase imports from the US. We hope this will help us secure more tariff concessions,” Yunus said after the meeting.

Gono Adhikar Parishad leader Rashed Khan has ruled out forming any fresh political alliances, emphasizing instead the need to strengthen the unity of anti-fascist forces.

“Different political parties may have their own programs and demands, which must be respected in a democratic state,” he said. “But we will not be part of any move that risks fragmenting the anti-fascist struggle and paves the way for an Awami League comeback. Our priority is building unity to completely eradicate fascism.”

Rashed pointed to recent multi-party meetings at the party office and solidarity rallies at Shahbagh as steps toward this goal. “We must unite the entire nation to achieve economic prosperity, equality, human dignity, and justice. There is no alternative to staying united, as urged yesterday by the Honorable Chief Adviser,” he added.

A Dhaka court has acquitted BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, senior leader Mirza Abbas, and 106 others in two cases of violence from 2013.

Judge Sabbir Faiz accepted a police final report and cleared 77 accused, including Fakhrul, Abbas, and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, in a case involving the torching of vehicles in Shahbagh in 2019.

In a separate case over clashes during a protest march in Shantinagar on March 2, 2013, Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Wahiduzzaman acquitted Fakhrul and 29 other BNP leaders and activists.

The cases stemmed from BNP’s demonstrations demanding a caretaker government, which led to violent clashes with police and ruling party supporters.

Gono Adhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur has been released from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) after 18 days of treatment. He left the hospital in an ambulance and has since been taken to his residence in Rampura’s Metropolitan Project area.

DMCH Director General Dr. Md. Asaduzzaman confirmed that Nur’s condition had improved significantly, prompting the medical board to approve his discharge. Speaking briefly while leaving the hospital, Nur said, “I’m not fully recovered yet. For now, I will rest at home and later seek treatment at another hospital.”

Family sources confirmed that Nur has been moved to his Rampura home for continued care.

A delegation of top industrialists met Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman for a courtesy call to discuss the country’s investment climate and labor issues.

The delegation included Square Group MD Tapan Chowdhury, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem, and Employers’ Federation President Fazle Shamim Ehsan.

Discussions focused on industrial growth prospects, new investments, and challenges surrounding the upcoming 2025 labor law. Rahman emphasized improving labor-employer relations to safeguard industries and sustain economic stability. He also thanked the business leaders for their visit and concern for his health.

Bangladesh will not form an independent statistics commission but instead a seven-member Statistics Council to ensure transparency and accountability in data management, according to a draft report submitted to the Planning Adviser.

The report recommends renaming the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) to Statistics Bangladesh (STAT), with its head designated as Chief Statistician.

The council will oversee appointments, cadre recruitment, and audit processes, led by the Planning Adviser. Amendments to the Statistics Act 2013, expansion into 16 branches, and creation of 437 new upazila-level posts have been proposed.

Taskforce chief Hossain Zillur Rahman noted that implementing these recommendations would bring about “major institutional reforms.” The report also urged a Tk 50 crore budget allocation to strengthen BBS’s autonomy.

Jamaat leader Hamidur Rahman Azad has reaffirmed that his party practices politics within Bangladesh’s legal and constitutional framework, acknowledging the country’s independence as non-negotiable.

“Denying the Liberation War would mean denying Bangladesh itself,” Azad said. He stressed that elections based on the legal framework of the July Charter would be both fair and historically significant.

He further stated that establishing good governance, justice, democracy, and accountability requires reforms under the July Charter’s legal foundation. Azad suggested that anchoring this constitutional order in Article 7 — which enshrines people’s sovereignty — and validating it through a referendum would make it the strongest possible framework.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said that the collective efforts of Bangladesh’s youth will help the country emerge as a developed, humane, and innovative nation.

Highlighting the role of youth in education, healthcare, environmental protection, poverty reduction, and social justice, Yunus emphasized that no barrier can halt progress when driven by innovation and determination.

He stressed that volunteerism is not only a service to humanity but also a path to self-development, character building, and leadership. Calling on young people to apply their talent and creativity to national progress, Yunus presented the Youth Award 2025 to 12 outstanding individuals for their contributions to nation-building.